Obama says Americans ‘won’t give into fear’

President Barack Obama says a bipartisan Senate vote to authorize arming and training Syrian rebels shows the world that Americans are united in combating the Islamic State group.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

September 18, 2014 - 3:31 pm

President Barack Obama speaks during a visit to Del Sol High School in Las Vegas to discuss details of his executive action on immigration Friday, Nov. 21, 2014. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says a bipartisan Senate vote to authorize arming and training Syrian rebels shows the world that Americans are united in combating the Islamic State group.

Obama says Islamic State terrorists thought they could frighten or intimidate the U.S. through the barbaric murder of two Americans.

He says they’re learning the same lesson that others have learned. He says Americans don’t give in to fear, but rather pull together and stand together.

Obama says U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State targets will continue. But he says U.S. troops will not have a combat role on the ground in Iraq or Syria.

Obama spoke at the White House shortly after the Senate approved his plan for training and equipping Syrian rebels. The vote clears the measure for Obama’s signature.